Back to the 50s with Boris and co

Sitting in the west of Ireland trying to follow the disasters in the English local elections via RTE (where the arrival of St Theresa's anklebone at the Basilica of Knock gets more airtime) I turned for some light relief to a recent reprint of George Orwell's The Lion and the Unicorn and happened upon the following: "Right through our national life we have got to fight against privilege, against the notion that a half-witted public schoolboy is better than an intelligent mechanic." I'm not sure the Newtmeister was an intelligent mechanic, but it does seem that, concerning Boris Notgudenov, Orwell's words - as so often - seem prescient. I'm not sure which is more preferable: living in a country where St Theresa's anklebone is about to be elevated before thousands, or one where a dangerous buffoon who calls black children piccaninnies has been elected to command one of the most important cities in Europe.Mike HardingCloon, Co Galway, Ireland

The Old Etonians are taking over. One is mayor of London, promising Routemasters and bus conductors. Another seems likely to be the next prime minister, with a cabinet of his school fellows. It feels like a return to the 1950s. I wonder what other aspects of the 1950s they may introduce. Sweet rationing, a 96% tax rate for high earners, free university tuition, railway lines to every town, a maximum wage for footballers, free prescriptions, NHS dentists, trolley buses, post offices on every street corner and bobbies on the beat are some of the things I can remember. Not all would be welcome.Geoff MasonWarsash, Hampshire